Political instability makes it difficult to make advances in maternal health.

By Sola Ogundipe

A Nigerian home made health intervention that utilises mobile antenatal services to educate rural communities about harmful cultural practices that can lead to maternal death, has been listed as one of the 50 most inspiring ideas and solutions that are transforming the lives of women and girls around the world.

The winning solution entitled "Let's Save Our Mothers-Mobile Ante-Natal Services", brain-child of Traffina Foundation, is listed by the acclaimed international advocacy organisation Women Deliver, on its "Women Deliver 50", a profile of the 50 celebrated winners across the world announced to commemorate the 2012 International Women's Day.

In a statement to announce the WD 50 winners, Chinomnso Traffina Ibe, a young, registered nurse-midwife, was said to have founded the Traffina Foundation and launched "Let's Save Our Mothers" to give women in rural communities the opportunity to confidentially share stories about the challenges they face regarding maternal health.

The overall goal is to combat maternal deaths give women in rural communities opportunity to confidentially share stories about the challenges they face regarding maternal health.

In Nigeria, where one in 23 women will die from complications during pregnancy and childbirth, according to UNFPA, this intervention enables women to share stories of unsafe practices.

Health workers can then help to prevent these harmful practices with proper health education and ante-natal services-and save mother's lives.

Jill Sheffield, Women Deliver Founder and President: "The solutions on this list show that with ingenuity, drive and dedication, we can build a better world for girls and women.

Of the 50 ideas and solutions featured, 25 are centered in sub-Saharan Africa, 9 in Asia, 5 in the Middle East and North Africa, 4 in Latin America, and 2 in Europe and North America, while the others are global in reach.

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